Richardson, Australian Capital Territory

Richardson Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Coordinates	35°25′34″S 149°06′54″E / 35.426°S 149.115°ECoordinates: 35°25′34″S 149°06′54″E / 35.426°S 149.115°E
Population	3,133 (2011 census)[1]
• Density	1,420/km^2 (3,690/sq mi)
Established	1981
Gazetted	5 May 1975
Postcode(s)	2905
Area	2.2 km^2 (0.8 sq mi)
District	Tuggeranong
Territory electorate(s)	Brindabella
Federal Division(s)	Canberra
Suburbs around Richardson: Monash Gowrie Chisholm Isabella Plains Richardson Canberra Nature Park Calwell Calwell Theodore

Richardson is a suburb in the Canberra, Australia, district of Tuggeranong. The postcode is 2905. The suburb is named after the author Henry Handel Richardson, nom de plume of Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson (1870–1946).^[2] It was gazetted on 5 May 1975.^[2] Streets are named after writers, especially female writers.^[2] It is next to the suburbs of Calwell, Isabella Plains, Gowrie and Chisholm. It is bounded by Johnson Drive, Ashley Drive and Isabella Drive.

Demographics

On Census night 2011, Richardson had a population of 3,133 people. The median age of people in Richardson was 33 years, compared to a median age of 34 for the ACT. Unemployment in Richardson was 1.2% higher than the ACT average. The median weekly individual income for Richardson in 2011 was $781, compared to $917 for the ACT, while the median weekly household income was $1,632. In 2011 the median monthly housing loan repayment in Richardson was $1,869.^[1]

The residents of Richardson are predominantly Australian born, with 77.8% being born in Australia. The three main countries of birth for those born overseas were England, 3.7%, New Zealand, 1.5% and India, 0.8%. The most popular religious affiliations in descending order are Catholic, no religion, Anglican and Uniting.^[1]

Suburb amenities and places of interest

Charles Bean and his wife, Effie, in the grounds of Tuggeranong Station between 1919 - 1925.

Richardson Primary school, located on May Gibbs Close, opened in 1984; the school has a major focus on information and communications technology in education. Richardson Primary School was the first school within Australia to install Interactive Whiteboards.^[3] Richardson Preschool is also located on May Gibbs Close.^[4]

The Tuggeranong Homestead heritage site is accessed off Johnson Drive and hosts the Tuggeranong Homestead markets on the first Sunday of each month. The Richardson local centre and Richardson Oval are located on May Gibbs Close. Richardson also has a scout hall on Clift Crescent.

Several ACTION bus routes service Richardson. Routes 65, 66 and 67 run between the Tuggeranong and Woden Interchanges every 20 to 60 minutes between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. The additional services 265 and 267, following the same routes through Richardson as 65 and 67 respectively, run during peak hour from the Tuggeranong Interchange to City West.^[5]

Politics

2012 ACT Election[6]   Liberal 45.1%   Labor 36.3%   Australian Motorist Party 6.6%   Greens 6.4%   Bullet Train for Canberra 3.6%   Independents 1.9%

2013 Federal Election[7]   Labor 45.93%   Liberal 34.27%   Greens 10.01%   Palmer United Party 4.61%   Bullet Train for Canberra 4.39%   Secular Party of Australia 0.79%

Richardson is located within the federal electorate of Canberra. Gai Brodtmann currently (2014) represents the electorate of Canberra in the House of Representatives.

Richardson is part of the Brindabella, which elects five members on the basis of proportional representation.

Polling place statistics are shown to the right for the Richardson polling place in the 2012 ACT and the 2013 federal elections.

Geology

Quaternary alluvium covers the whole suburb. This would have formed by erosion of the surrounding Deakin Volcanics in Chisholm and the hills to the east. Deep underneath are volcanic rocks from the Silurian age at 414 Mya.^[8]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Richardson (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
2. Canberra's suburb and street names : origins and meanings. Department of the Environment, Land and Planning. 1992. p. 102. ISBN 1-86331-128-9.
3. "Our School". Richardson Primary School. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
4. "Preschools (Public)". ACT Department of Education and Training. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
5. ACTION Buses (2006) ACTION Buses. Retrieved 11 July 2006
6. "Results for Brindabella candidates at Richardson Polling Place". ACT Electoral Commission. 12 Feb 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
7. "Federal Election 2013 - Polling Place Richardson". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
8. Henderson G A M and Matveev G, Geology of Canberra, Queanbeyan and Environs 1:50000 1980.